to 188 990. For Girvan Mains, West camp , see . NX 191 991. The cropmarks of a probable legionary-size Roman temporary camp discovered from aerial photographs in 1976 and 1977 were proved by trenching in October 1977. Information from J K St Joseph letter, 12 October 1977. The site occupies mostly level ground divided amongst several fields on Girvan Mains farm, on the N side of the Girvan Water, a length of some 61m of the N arm, the NE angle and a disjointed 350m length of the E arm are known, indicating a total area of not less than 10 hectares (25 acres) and probably as much as 14 to 16 hectares (35 to 40 acres). The two trenches cut in 1977 both showed a V-shaped ditch about 3.05m wide and 1.25 m deep which had gradually silted. (Descriptions indicate the trenches were in areas NX 1923 9932 and NX 1929 9898). J K St Joseph 1978 RCAHMS aerial photographs (1978) show only an 80m length of the E arm of the temporary camp . Also shown is an indistinct and formless series of intersecting linear cropmarks in area NX 189 990. These largely occur within the projected area of the camp and could possibly include part(s) of its W arm; at NX 188 990, outside the projected camp area, is the clear linear cropmark of part of another probable Roman work with a rounded E angle and about 60m lengths of the N and E arms showing. Further excavation by Dr St Joseph in 1980 has apparently proved the NW angle of the temporary camp and its area is now estimated at about 16 hectares (40 acres). No action was taken regarding the linear marks in areas NX 189 990 and NX 188 990 and their significance remains uncertain. The RCAHMS does not as yet hold copies of the CUCAP APs. Information from G Maxwell (RCAHMS) 4 December 1980 There are no surface indications of the camp or other linear features across arable fields. Dr St Joseph's recent excavations, comprising three slit trenches in area NX 1889 9927, are still detectable in a field of stubble. This being the NW angle of the camp, the N arm now has a complete length of some 360m. Mr Young (Girvan Mains Farm) the landowner, has a St Joseph AP (U76/ 1976) which shows the NE angle of the camp. The probable Roman work appearing on APs in area NX 188 990 is significantly placed on a plateau that could accommodate an annexe or separate temporary camp. Visited by OS (JRL) 8 December 1980 Two Roman camps lie half a mile (0.8 km) north of the estuary of the Water of Girvan on gravel subsoil in level fields of Girvan Mains Farm.
Source: Pleiades — A Community-Built Gazetteer and Graph of Ancient Places. View the Pleiades record →
to 188 990. It is recorded in the Pleiades gazetteer of ancient places as a military camp site from the Roman period in Britain.
Girvan Mains is classified as a Roman military camp — a military site in the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer. Roman Britain's archaeology encompasses thousands of sites ranging from legionary fortresses and marching camps to villas, temples and towns.
Several Roman sites lie within a short distance, including Loudoun Hill (56.3 km), Gatehouse-of-Fleet (58.1 km), Kirkland (61.9 km). Aubrey Research maps over 2,200 Roman sites across Britain, drawn from the Pleiades ancient world gazetteer.
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